North Korea’s recent nuclear detonation and accelerated missile testing raised the impetus for closer military cooperation between Tokyo and Washington as Japan’s new defense minister prepared for her first official U.S. visit this week. Tomomi Inada, a lawyer with no defense experience, is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Thursday, U.S. officials said, after becoming defense minister last month.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 12, 2016 08:26 UTC